INTERVIEW: Artist Mickel Yantz

As a change of pace and as a thank you to Mickel for creating our banner art. We have interviewed Oklahoma based artist Mickel Yantz. Yantz is a great friend and university colleague. He is currently busy with several artshows and conventions. You can also check out his bi-weekly comic strip at http://myfuzzynuts.com.

Speculative Book Review: How did you gain an interest in art?

Mickel Yantz: I have been interested in artwork since birth. It started with Saturday morning cartoons. I grew up drawing Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam and Muppet characters. As I got older I experimented in various art classes until I decided to become an Art major in college.

SBR: Who are the major artists that have influenced you?

MY: Its quite eclectic. Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Keith Haring, Leonardo Davinci, Van Gogh, MC Escher, Coop and Shag. I also have had a large influence from Native artists. I grew up in the Northwest and was surrounded by tribal art and now I work with wonderful Native artists that have influenced a lot of what I have done.

SBR: What is your favorite medium to work in?

MY: That’s a tricky question. In a regular week I do digital work, acrylic painting and now I am doing more with wood and glass sculpture.

SBR: You are currently the curator of the Cherokee Heritage Center in Oklahoma, what does that job entail and what is the best part of the job?

MY: I am in charge of all exhibits and art shows, plus I supervise the permanent collections. I enjoy designing exhibits that brings history and culture into an environment that tells the visitors a story that makes them enter a certain time or place. I also have a great time doing our two annual Native art shows. Its like a party when all the artwork comes into the museum. Plus I get to touch the cool antique objects no one else can.

SBR: Your comic strip Nut Cracks has quite a following on the internet, have you considered publishing your comic or expanding into other options for the comic strip?

MY:I have had a blast doing my comic. I have been selling prints for about a year, but there has been a growing request for a book, so it may be coming in the future. I would love to see Fuzzy get animated too. Stay tuned.

SBR: Nut Cracks is always fresh and entertaining, how hard is it to come up with new material two times a week?

MY: I find that life naturally brings me things that I laugh about. There are so many things that I want to say to people that wouldn’t be appropriate in today’s society, so I go home and have a squirrel say it for me. Life makes me laugh.

SBR: What or who inspires you?

MY: People who are passionate about something. They look beyond what society or popular culture throws at them and they decide they want more from themselves and go out and do it. That’s inspiring

SBR: You do several art shows and cons, where will you be next?

MY: I have a solo show coming up on June 11^th and 12^th in Tahlequah, OK that with show case my comics and my new sculpture series. It’s called “Split Personality” since both mediums are so different. You can check out all my work at my website www.mickelyantz.com.

Everyone at Speculative Book Review and especially myself want to thank Mickel for agreeing to do the interview and for providing us with a great looking banner. We wish Mickel the best of luck with his ever-growing comic book and look forward to seeing it in print soon.